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Crooked cops on the take, small-time drug lords, sleazy informers and sadistic rich kids ready to kill -- for police detective John Shaft, it's just another night in the underbelly of New York City, another shift facing down cops and criminals who want him dead and a legal system that thrives on money, not justice.

Drama - Young urban audiences--as well as older fans of the original '70s
film series--should enjoy this slick, smooth crime drama; the film
delivers laughs, solid acting, and satisfying action. The violence
and pervasive profanity make the film inappropriate for children.

Style doesn't exactly make for a great film, but when it comes to Shaft, that's of little consequence. What matters above all else is having a good time, and that's why John Singleton's Y2G revival of supercool Big Apple P.I. John Shaft is as enjoyable as it is. Much like the film that started the franchise, this Shaft's plot doesn't score points in the originality department, but the energy level and smooth attitude distinguishes it from standard crime thrillers.

Crooked cops on the take … small-time drug
lords … sleazy informers and sadistic rich kids ready to kill -- for police
detective John Shaft, it's just another night in the underbelly of New York
City, another shift facing down cops and criminals who want him dead and a legal
system that thrives on money, not justice.

When spoiled college kid Walter Wade (Christian Bale) kills a young black
student, John Shaft (Jackson) makes the arrest. Walter skips bail and flees the
country, and after two years of waiting, Shaft hauls him back into custody as
Walter secretly returns to the States. But when Walter's wealthy father posts
bail once again, Walter is back out on the streets and looking to put Shaft in a
body bag. So are two of Shaft's corrupt colleagues (Dan Hedaya and Ruben
Santiago-Hudson) as well as a Dominican drug lord (Jeffrey Wright) who wants
revenge on Shaft for humiliating him in the neighborhood he rules.

For backup, Shaft has only his two closest pals: Carmen (Vanessa Williams), a
colleague on the police force; and his streetwise confidant, Rasaan (Busta
Rhymes). Meanwhile, Shaft has got to track down the one murder witness (Toni
Collette) who can put all of his enemies away for good even as the toughest
killers in the city close in on him.